Arthur Cushman McGiffert (March 4, 18611933), American

theologian Theology is the study of religious belief from a religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of ...

, was born in

Sauquoit, New York Sauquoit is a Hamlet (New York), hamlet in the Paris, New York, Town of Paris, Oneida County, New York, United States. It is located on New York State Route 8, New York Route 8, approximately six miles south of Utica, New York, Utica and east of ...

, the son of a

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...

clergyman Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...

of Scots-Irish descent.

Biography

He graduated at Western Reserve College in 1882 and at

Union Theological Seminary Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York (shortened to UTS or Union) is a Private college, private ecumenical liberal Christian seminary in Morningside Heights, Manhattan, affiliated with Columbia University since 1928. Presently, Co ...

in 1885, studied in Germany (especially under Harnack) in 1885–1887, and in Italy and France in 1888, and in that year received the degree of

doctor of philosophy A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, DPhil; or ) is a terminal degree that usually denotes the highest level of academic achievement in a given discipline and is awarded following a course of Postgraduate education, graduate study and original resear ...

Marburg Marburg (; ) is a college town, university town in the States of Germany, German federal state () of Hesse, capital of the Marburg-Biedenkopf Districts of Germany, district (). The town area spreads along the valley of the river Lahn and has ...

. He was instructor (1888-1890) and professor (1890-1893) of

church history Church history or ecclesiastical history as an academic discipline studies the history of Christianity and the way the Christian Church has developed since its inception. Henry Melvill Gwatkin defined church history as "the spiritual side of t ...

at Lane Theological Seminary, and in 1893 became Washburn professor of church history in Union theological seminary, succeeding

Philip Schaff Philip Schaff (January 1, 1819 – October 20, 1893) was a Swiss-born, German-educated Protestant theologian and ecclesiastical historian, who spent most of his adult life living and teaching in the United States. Life and career Schaff was ...

. He became the 8th president of Union Seminary in 1917 He died in Dobbs Ferry, New York, on February 25, 1933, at the age of 71.

Career

His published work, except occasional critical studies in philosophy, dealt with church history and the history of

dogma Dogma, in its broadest sense, is any belief held definitively and without the possibility of reform. It may be in the form of an official system of principles or doctrines of a religion, such as Judaism, Roman Catholicism, Protestantism, or Islam ...

. His best known publication is a ''History of Christianity in the Apostolic Age'' (1897). This book, which sustains critical historical eminence to this day, by its independent criticism and departures from traditionalism, aroused the opposition of the General Assembly of the

Presbyterian Church Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Christianity, Reformed Protestantism, Protestant tradition named for its form of ecclesiastical polity, church government by representative assemblies of Presbyterian polity#Elder, elders, known as ...

; though the charges brought against McGiffert were dismissed by the Presbytery of New York, to which they had been referred, a trial for

heresy Heresy is any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs or customs, particularly the accepted beliefs or religious law of a religious organization. A heretic is a proponent of heresy. Heresy in Heresy in Christian ...

seemed inevitable, and McGiffert, in 1900, retired from the Presbyterian ministry and retained his credentialed status by eager recognition from a

Congregational Church Congregationalism (also Congregational Churches or Congregationalist Churches) is a Reformed Christian (Calvinist) tradition of Protestant Christianity in which churches practice congregational government. Each congregation independently a ...

. Likewise he retained his distinguished position at Union Theological Seminary. ''A History of Christian Thought'' constituted a two volume work (1932, 1933) which established an American standard in theological studies and is still cited regularly by scholars. Among his other publications are: ''A Dialogue between a Christian and a Jew'' (1888); a translation (with introduction and notes) of

Eusebius Eusebius of Caesarea (30 May AD 339), also known as Eusebius Pamphilius, was a historian of Christianity, exegete, and Christian polemicist from the Roman province of Syria Palaestina. In about AD 314 he became the bishop of Caesarea Maritima. ...

's ''Church History'' (1890; part of

's ''

Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers ''A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church'', usually known as the ''Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers'' (NPNF), is a set of books containing translations of early Christian writings into English. It was publi ...

'' series); and ''The Apostle's Creed'' (1902), in which he attempted to prove that the old Roman creed was formulated as a protest against the

dualism Dualism most commonly refers to: * Mind–body dualism, a philosophical view which holds that mental phenomena are, at least in certain respects, not physical phenomena, or that the mind and the body are distinct and separable from one another * P ...

Marcion Marcion of Sinope (; ; ) was a theologian in early Christianity. Marcion preached that God had sent Jesus Christ, who was distinct from the "vengeful" God ( Demiurge) who had created the world. He considered himself a follower of Paul the Apost ...

and his denial of the reality of Jesus's life on earth.

Works

*''A Dialogue between a Christian and a Jew'' (1888) *''Eusebius: Church History, Life of Constantine the Great, etc. ranslated by A.C. McGiffert, and others.' (1890) *''Primitive and Catholic Christianity: an address'' (1893) *''A History of Christianity in the Apostolic Age'' (1897) *''The Apostles' Creed: its origin, its purpose, and its historical interpretation: a lecture, with critical notes'' (1902) *''Protestant Thought before Kant'' (1909) *''Modernism and Catholicism'' (1910) *''Martin Luther and His Work'' (1911) *''The Rise of Modern Religious Ideas'' (1912) *''The God of the Early Christians'' (1924) *''A History of Christian Thought'' 2 Volumes (1932, 1933)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:McGiffert, Arthur Cushman American theologians American religious writers Case Western Reserve University alumni Union Theological Seminary alumni 1861 births 1933 deaths People from Sauquoit, New York Presidents of the Religious Education Association